ASRock FSB clarification

bill1971 · July 24th, 2008, 02:40 PM

Getting ready to build my new system after 3 years with my FX6? single core setup. Bang for my buck is an Intel E8500/1333MHz FSB on an ASRock P45R2000-Wifi board. (It had all of the features that I want at a decent price).

I would like to OC this puppy once installed, but the manual has me confused about locking the FSB using the jumpers on the board. Can you tell me if the jumper settings are limiting the CPU adjustments or limiting the DRAM bus? It's a bit confusing. Am I adjusting the FSB to the config for my CPU's 1333 MHz FSB? Or am I locking down DRAM bus via the NB, as referenced in the "strapping" sentence?

"FSB1 Jumper
(FSB1, 3-pin jumper, see p.11/12 No. 12)
FSB2 Jumper
(FSB2, 5-pin jumper, see p.11/12 No. 11)
FSB3 Jumper
(FSB3, 5-pin jumper, see p.11/12 No. 10)
When you mount a FSB800 or FSB1066 CPU, and try to overclock to FSB1333 or
FSB1600 (by BIOS setting) you may face the problem, that DRAM frequency will be
overclocked very high. Please use jumper to force NB to be strapped at higher
frequency, so the DRAM can work at lower frequency."

"If you want to overclock the CPU you adopt to FSB1066 on this motherboard, you need
to adjust the jumpers. Please short pin4, pin5 for FSB2 jumper and pin4, pin5 for FSB3
jumper. Otherwise, the CPU may not work properly on this motherboard. Please refer to
below jumper settings.
If you want to overclock the CPU you adopt to FSB1333 on this motherboard, you need
to adjust the jumpers. Please short pin3, pin4 for FSB2 jumper and pin4, pin5 for FSB3
jumper. Otherwise, the CPU may not work properly on this motherboard. Please refer to
below jumper settings.
If you want to overclock the CPU you adopt to FSB1600 on this motherboard, you need
to adjust the jumpers. Please short pin3, pin4 for FSB2 jumper and pin3, pin4 for FSB3
jumper. Otherwise, the CPU may not work properly on this motherboard. Please refer to
below jumper settings. 3_4FSB3 1_2FSB1 3_4FSB2"

Thanks, in advance for the clarification. Always much appreciated.

- Bill

bill1971 · July 25th, 2008, 09:36 PM

OK - Here's the response from ASRock tech support:

"Dear ASRock Costumer,

The jumpers are related to RAM adjustment only .The relation bvetween the cpu and ram the manual mention is about if you install the AM with CPU, but if you want to OverClock the CPU you can do under BIOS >CPU comfiguration CPU Frequency (auto ) you can change to the desired speed to overclock.

ASRock Support"

I think(?) I get it. The jumpers lock down the RAM if you plan on OC'g the CPU. Hopefully, this will help any other folks who might pick up an ASRock board. This is my first. I wish MB makers would hire us to proof read and edit the manuals before they go to print.

- Bill

(An' I ain't no "Costumer" - lol!)

jamhough22 · July 28th, 2008, 06:32 PM

yes as you said it is confusing,

i would of thought by the manual,
to overclock 1333FSB:
FSB2 = pin 3+4
FSB3 = pin 4+5
"Otherwise, the CPU may not work properly on this motherboard."
but as the tech support said, it is only for the ram....if you get it, geddon you!

jamhough22 · July 28th, 2008, 06:34 PM

no wait!, i think i get it!

"When you mount a FSB800 or FSB1066 CPU, and try to overclock to FSB1333 or
FSB1600 (by BIOS setting) you may face the problem, that DRAM frequency will be
overclocked very high."

tech support is correect it is for the ram :P

shadowwar · July 30th, 2008, 10:15 PM

I did it on mine.. basically it adjusts the cpu fsb to ram ratio divider.. i set my e6320 to 400 fsb and the jumpers to 4 and 4 i believe.. That gave me 1 to 1 ratio on ram and fsb so my ddr2-800 wasnt smoking..I believe it was 4 to 5 before i touched the jumpers so my ram was clocked really high and bios wouldnt even post.